Arsenal have found themselves in big trouble due to their injury crisis.
The Gunners no longer have a striker after Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz suffered season-ending injuries. That is a massive blow for the North Londoners.
To make things worse, Mikel Arteta is without Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as well – the two attackers are not expected to be back for another month.
Arsenal have just three fit forwards at the moment – Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri. They will have to play a lot of games in the coming weeks.
To protect them, Arteta will need help, and the Arsenal manager could turn to the academy.
Mikel Arteta says three Arsenal Academy attackers ‘will have opportunities’
The Arsenal Academy is one of the best in England.
Hale End has produced several incredible young players over the years. Saka is definitely the best of them all, but there are many more.
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have become household names this season, and they are destined to become superstars in the coming years.
Arsenal’s injury crisis could now open the door for more youngsters to come into the first team, and there are few great options.
In his press conference ahead of the game against Leicester City, Arteta was asked what the situation is with Charles Sagoe Jr, a player tipped as a surprise option to replace Gabriel Martinelli by Arsenal Insider.
The Arsenal boss confirmed that the youngster is training with the senior side and will have opportunities, along with two other academy stars – Ismael Kabia and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
Arteta said, as relayed on HaytersTV: “He (Sagoe Jr) is certainly training with us. When he plays, it’s obviously in this position, the same with Kabia and Nath as well, they’ve been very much involved with us.
“They will have opportunities.”
READ MORE: Who is Arsenal’s Charles Sagoe Jr? Age, nationality, position, stats and more
What Charles Sagoe Jr has just done for Arsenal U21s
Arsenal U21s beat Middlesbrough 2-1 in their Premier League 2 clash on Friday night.
Kabia and Butler-Oyedeji were not in the squad, which suggests that they have been called up to the first team for the trip to Leicester City.
Sagoe Jr, however, started the game and played the full 90 minutes.
The talented 20-year-old assisted both of Arsenal’s goals – first to Khayon Edwards and then to Michal Rosiak for his winner.
That is exactly the kind of impression Sagoe Jr needs to be making, and it also explains why Arteta has an eye on him.
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